It’s a Wrap! Holiday Shopping Near The Pearl
How’s everyone doing on their holiday shopping? Too many gifts, so little time?
Fortunately for residents of The Pearl, Koreatown and vicinity is brimming with a sleigh full of shopping options. From KTown malls to regional centers, pop ups and museum stores, we found some inspiring ideas to get your holiday shopping all wrapped up.
3515 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Since its foundation in 2003 by husband-and-wife team Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung, Poketo has grown from a small startup into a creative hub and online destination for design-driven goods. Collections include everything from furniture & lighting to apothecary, tabletop, textiles, books & prints, and apparel. If you can’t the perfect gift at Poketo, it probably doesn’t exist! Mark your calendar for Dec. 19. Poketo, The LINE Hotel, and Happy Hour Agency are teaming up to bring you the POKETOLAND Holiday Party. A percentage of proceeds will benefit LAFD in their recovery efforts from California fires. More info here.
The Grove
189 The Grove Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90036
The Grove’s exclusive Pop Shops are the next evolution in the pop-up revolution! An ever-changing collection of all your favorite hard-to-find brands, including BaubleBar, Charlotte Tilbury, FabFitFun, The Giving Keys, Kopari Beauty, KORA Organics, Noémie, Stellé, Stoney Clover Lane, Tai Jewelry, and Uncommon James, savvy shoppers can hop from one to the next in this new pop up playground. Come celebrate the magic of the holiday season and see The Grove transform into a winter wonderland. Snow falls every evening at 7 & 8 pm, through December 25. Got family in tow? Make the season extra merry and bright with a visit to Santa’s Workshop! Share your Christmas wish list with Santa himself, and take home a keepsake photo for the whole family to treasure. Complete list of events here.
928 South Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90006
Located at Western and 9th Street, this three-story indoor shopping mall is home to some 70 shops including a grocery store, a multitude of skincare shops, home goods, jewelry, and one of the best food courts in the area. Got K-Pop fans on your holiday list? Music Plaza will fill the bill. Fancy House carries knick-knacks, stationery, Hello Kitty, K-pop paraphernalia, and Korean plush toys. ABC Plaza home goods inventory ranges from Korean cookware to English dishware, as well as home appliances, lunchboxes, and personal goods. For high-end handbags and shoes from designers like Celine, Lanvin, Chloe, Balenciaga, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Alexander McQueen, don’t miss Parashu, Rodeo Handbag and Milano.
Madang the Courtyard
621 S. Western Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
This modern three-level outdoor shopping and entertainment center is considered one of the more demographically mixed centers in Koreatown. H Mart, an Asian American supermarket, offers fresh produce, meats, groceries, and trendy Asian foods. Daiso is a Japanese chain store with a little bit of everything for $1.50, including bento boxes and a plethora of utensil paraphernalia, stationery, home goods, origami tools and cosmetics. Check out Cosmetic World for a wide selection of American and Japanese brands such as Clinique, Estee Lauder, SK-II, Fresh, Shiseido, and Clarins. The Face Shop is a Korean franchise that carries lines of natural cosmetics and shares space with Chocolate Chair. For vintage lovers, Aladdin Books is the first L.A. branch of a Korean chain known for buying and selling old Korean books, English books, CDs, and DVDs.
3250 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
Situated in the heart of KTown, Koreatown Galleria is the ultimate shopping destination, offering one-stop shopping experience with over 70 stores, including apparel, beauty, pharmacy & health, video, books, and the Galleria Market, the largest Korean market in Los Angeles. The Galleria Market carries mostly Korean products, as well as a good selection of Japanese and Chinese goods. There’s also an elaborate seafood section with prepared sashimi, whole fish, and live fruits of the sea, including octopus, abalone, prawns, lobsters, and Dungeness crab–perfect for holiday entertaining. The market also includes Cake House (Korean bakery chain), Dong Bang Mi ln, (rice cake bakery), VNS Chicken, and an orchid shop.
3881 W. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
This family-owned home furnishings and accessories store has proudly provided hip and trendy furniture items since 2016. Don’t let the expensive look of the merchandise scare you away–this store is surprisingly reasonable, especially given the good quality of the pieces. A pair of marble tables might set you back $150, while a modernist style dining chair is a mere $150, and a small sideboard is just $250. In addition to the floor inventory, Sixth Sense offers interior design service and custom designs. You’ll also find a great selection of smallers gift items—frames, tableware, wall decor, and other home accessories.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
If you’re looking for gifts with some artistic savoir faire, The LACMA Store reflects the museum itself, through its thoughtfully curated selection of books, jewelry, gift items, and one-of-a-kind Los Angeles-based designs. Many items are inspired by works in LACMA’s collection and exhibitions. For the book lovers on your list, Art Catalogues Bookstore in the David Bohnett Foundation Atrium of the Ahmanson Building specializes in current and out-of-print exhibition catalogues and books on contemporary art. LACMA membership also makes a great gift! For a limited time, when you buy two gift memberships at any level, you’ll receive a complimentary Individual-level gift membership.